Q2 Closes With Earnings Fire, Bears Double Down

Quarter-End Earnings in Focus

Three S&P 500 names report today, marking the end of Q2. NKE releases Q4 2026 results after the close. Tariff pressures and margin guidance will dominate the call. STZ posts Q1 FY2027 numbers with beer volumes under scrutiny. GIS rounds out the trio with a pre-recorded call this evening. General Mills carries the heaviest short interest of the group at nearly 10% of free float. Options markets are tightly wound around near-term expiries for all three names.

Bears Double Down on Key Names

Short sellers aren't waiting for earnings to make their moves. WOLF now has short interest at 132% of free float — up from 105% just one week ago. Zero share availability confirms no new borrow is available. HTZ shorts jumped from 44.6% to 62.6% in seven days. Bears remain deeply skeptical of any Hertz recovery. AI infrastructure name CRWV also drew fresh shorts, with SI climbing from 22% to 29%.

Analysts Back Chips and Airlines

Wells Fargo made bold calls today. The bank raised its target on AMD by $110 to $615, citing AI chip momentum. It also lifted UAL to $165, keeping a Buy. DIS earned a Buy upgrade from JP Morgan, with analyst David Karnovsky moving his target to $140.

Pharma Catalyst in Europe

ABBV and Danish biotech GMAB delivered a positive headline today. Their lymphoma trial met its main goal. Analysts are already flagging a bigger market opportunity. The trial result is a meaningful win heading into H2.